The 2024 Plumbing National Championship, sponsored by SharkBite, has officially kicked off. Round 1 of the qualifying stages is now open to plumbers across the U.S.

According to SharkBite, this competition seeks to honor the skill, precision, and dedication of plumbers nationwide, providing a platform for professionals to showcase their expertise and vie for the title of national champion. A series of challenging and engaging events is lined up for the coming months.

IDEAL Industries and Intersport have expanded the Elite Trades Championship Series platform, which began in 2016 with a competition focused on the electrical trade. The platform is the Olympics of the trades with national championship programs now for a variety of trade professions, including the addition of the U.S. Auto Technician National Championship in 2021, the ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship in 2022, and the SharkBite Plumbing National Championship last year.

The Plumbing National Championship includes 12 weeks of online digital competitions and at-home qualifying challenges culminating in the top five plumbers being flown all-expenses-paid to West Palm Beach, Florida, in September to compete in a one-of-a-kind built competition arena at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Contestants can qualify by first engaging in a timed online assessment that evaluates their proficiency in a range of essential plumbing skills. These encompass the ability to conduct initial diagnostic assessments and proficiently handle diverse real-world plumbing situations. The Round 1 online competition is active until June via the Plumbing National Championship website.

For those moving on, Round 2 will be a hands-on challenge. Each contestant will receive a kit delivered to their homes, containing materials for constructing a pressure-tested copper pipe fixture. This task demands a diverse set of plumbing skills for successful completion. The top five contestants will progress to the finals and earn the all-expenses-paid trip to West Palm Beach, Florida. All finalists will also receive a custom VIP prize package from Plumbing National Championship sponsors.

Evaluation during the competition will focus on precision, efficiency, and the overall excellence of work. Esteemed judges, representing both union and independent perspectives, will assess each competitor’s work.

The Plumbing National Championship will also be featured across the CBS Sports Network with an hour-long primetime show celebrating the plumbing trade with personal stories of the competitors and the national championship competition. First place will receive $10,000. Second place will receive $7,000. And third place will receive $3,000.